Trailer hitch



Oct. 25, 1949." H. P. HUGHES TRAILER HTcH 2 vSheets-Sheet 2 n Filed May9, 1947 HarolaP. Hzzgbes 53 @Am iff@ Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE TRAILER HITCH Harold P. Hughes, Canton, OhioApplication May 9, 1947, ,Serial No. 746,959

9 Claims. (Cl. 28m-33.44.)

Th-e invention relates to trailer hitches and more particularly to `sucha device adapted to be connect-ed to the rear bumper of an automobile orother draft vehicle to enable a trailer or the like to `be connectedthereto.

Various devices have been used in the past for coupling 'trailers toautomobiles but such devices have been designed to be connected t-o thestyle of bumper which has been generally used for years and which isnearly at in cross section.

A great many of the modern automobiles have adopted new styles ofbumpers which are so shaped in 'cross section that the upper portion ofthe bumper is inclined, curved or extended forwardly so that the upperedge of the bumper is located in a vertical plane considerably forwardofthe lower edge thereof.

Also a considerable number of the moreimodern vautomobiles have yagravel pan or apron -extending rearwardly from the back of theautomobile body to a point adjacent tothe bumper. This change in thecross sectional shape of the bumper makes it impossible to connect the.conventional form of trailer hitches now in general use tothe bumpersof modern automobiles.

Furthermore, since some of the trailer hitches now in use include meansextending across the inner or forward side of the bumper, the locationofthe gravel pan vor apron adjacent to the'bumper prevents the use ofsuch trailer hitches upon automobiles provided with these gravel pans-or aprons.

It is therefore an object of the present 'invention to provide a trailerhitch for automobiles especially designed to be attached to' thesemodern shapes of auto-mobile bumpers.4

Another object is to provide a rtrailer hitch so constructed that it maybe quickly and easily attached to the rear bumper of an automobileprovided with a gravel pan or apron located adjacent to the rear bumper.

A further object is to provide a trailer hitch Iof the characterreferred to which is equally laplplicable to the older form of bumperswhich are substantially flat and vertically disposed in cross section.

A still further object is to provide a trailer hitch of this characterhaving a forwardly extending member at its upper end adapted to extendover the rearwardly disposed upper edge of a bumper and -provided withan adjustable clamping plate for engaging the forwardly disposed upperend portion of the bumper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitch of thistype including a vertically disposed hitch lplate `for engaging the rearside of the bumper, adjustable clamping plates upon the hitch plate forengaging over the upper and lower edges of the bumper .and an adjustingscrew located through the hitch plate for contact with the rear surfaceof the bumper to adjust the hitch plate ,in vertical position.

,A further object is `to provide a trailer hitch of the characterreferred to in .which the hitch plate is provided intermediate its endswith a horizontally `disposed fear 4:or .ii-ange upon which may bemounted ,a ball or other coupling member to cooperate with a .socket orother coupling member mounted ufpon the ltongue of the trailer.

Astill further .object of the invention is to provide a trailer hitchconstructed in the manner above referred to in which a forwardlyextending angular member `at the upper end of the hitch plate isdeltachably connected to the hitch plate .so that it may be reversed `inposition to accommodate the .older type Iof bumpers which aresubstantially flat in'cross section.

Other objects of v:theinvention are to generally improve and simplifytrailer hitches of Vlthis general characterandto provide la-trailerhitch which kis flexible in use and easily adjusted to meet variousconditions.

The above objects together with others which will be `apparent from 'theldrawings and following description, or which :may ybe later referredto, maybe attained by constructing the improved trailer hitch inthemanner hereinafter ydescribed 4in detail and .illustrated in theaccompanying proved ;trai'ler -liiitch attached thereto.; and,

Fig. v3 Aa .similar view showing the manner in which :the .improvedltrailer -fhitch vmay be attachedto 'the foldertype of bumper which issubstantiallyilatin-cross section.

.The :trailer :hitch fto which `the invention pertains includesgenerally the hitch plate Il), the upper angular .member flat, .havingthe yclamping plate 112 :adjustably vmounted thereon, and the lowerclamping plate I3. All of these plates may vbe `inthe forni ofmalleablecastings, forgings or maybe votherwise,-c-ol'istructed so as to `be 0f:suicient strength for the .purpose for which the deviceis intended.

The hitch plate indicated generally at l0 Imay be of sulcient yheight.sorthat .it wil-1 extend some distance above and below the upper andlower edges respectively of the rear bumper to which the trailer is to.be attached, and may be of .any suitable width.

The upper and lower edges of the hitch plate are preferably tapered orbevelled as indicated at I4 or otherwise shaped to eliminate sharpcorners. Midway between the upper and lower ends of the hitch plate I isformed a rearwardly disposed ear or flange I5 which may be of greaterthickness than the body of the hitch plate I and the rear end of whichmay be tapered or bevelled as indicated at I6.

A central opening I1 is formed in the ear I5 to receive the screwthreaded stem I8 of a coupling member such as the conventional ball I9which is rigidly attached to the ear I as by the nut 2|) and lock Washer2 I.

Two or more vertically spaced pairs of openings, as indicated at 22 and23, are formed in the upper portion of the hitch plate I0 and twosimilar vertically spaced pairs of openings 24 and 25 are formed in thelower portion thereof.

The upper angular member Il is in the form of a horizontally disposedplate 26 having the vertically disposed angular flange 21 at its rearend which may be tapered or bevelled as indicated at 28 to conform tothe contour of the upper end of the hitch plate.

A pair of apertures 29 is formed in the vertical flange 2l to receivethe attaching bolts 30 which may be selectively located through theapertures 22 and 23 in the hitch plate as desired in order to adjustablymount the member II upon the forward side of the hitch plate, nuts 3Ibeing provided for the bolts 3U in order to tightly clamp the verticalflange 21 of the member II against the forward side of the hitch platein adjusted position.

A plurality of spaced pairs of apertures 32 are formed in the horizontalplate 26 at points near the side edges thereof for adjustably connectingthe upper clamping plate I2 thereto as Will be later described.

This clamping plate I2 includes the flat forward portion 33 having apair of apertures 34 therein for receiving the bolts 35 which may belocated through any desired pair of the apertures 32 in the plate 26 andprovided with the nuts 36 for adjustably clamping the plate I2 upon theplate 26.

The clamping plate I2 is then curved downwardly as indicated at 31 andthen rearwardly as at 33 for clamping the upper edge portion of a bumperagainst the plate 26 as will be later described.

The lower clamping plate I3 may be slightly curved from top to bottom asshown in the drawings, the lower end thereof being tapered or bevelledas indicated at 39 to conform to the shape of the lower end of the hitchplate and a spaced pair of apertures 49 is provided in the lowerclamping plate to receive the bolts 4I which may be located through theapertures 24 or 25 of the hitch plate to adjustably mount the clampingplate I3 thereon. Nuts 42 are provided upon the bolts 4I for clampingthe lower edge of a bumper between the hitch plate and the clampingplate I3.

For the purpose of adjusting the hitch plate vertically against the rearside of an automobile bumper, the adjusting screw 43 may be locatedthrough the inclined threaded opening 44 in the hitch plate for contactwith the rear surface of the bumper as will be later described.

As shown in Fig. 2 the improved hitch is especially designed to beeasily and readily attached to the modern type of bumper, which isindicated in cross section at 45. It will be seen that the upper portionof this bumper is inclined forwardly so that the upper edge 46 thereofis located in a plane considerably forward of the lower edge 41.

As above pointed out the type of trailer hitch at present in common usewas designed for attachment to the old fashioned type of bumper which issubstantially flat, the upper and lower edges thereof being located insubstantially the same vertical plane, and such trailer hitches are notadapted for use upon the modern type of bumpers, an example of which isshown at 45.

Furthermore many of the modern automobiles are provided with arearwardly extending gravel pan or apron, as indicated at 48 in Fig. 2,located near the upper edge of the bumper and extending to a pointadjacent thereto as shown in the drawings. This gravel pan prevents theuse of many of the types of trailer hitches in which a plate, bar orother member is located across the inner or front side of the bumper toattach the hitch plate.

As shown in Fig. 2 the improved trailer hitch not only accommodates themodern type of bumper, in which the upper portion is extended forwardlyso that the upper edge is located in a vertical plane considerablyforward from the lower edge, but is also adapted to securely attach thehitch plate to the bumper without interference from the gravel pan orapron 48.

To attach the hitch plate I6 to the bumper 45 the hitch plate is placedagainst the back of the bumper in vertical position and the lowerclamping plate I3 and the upper angular member II are i'lrst adjustedvertically on the hitch plate by locating the bolts 4I and 30respectively through the proper openings 24 or 25 at the bottom and 22or 23 at the top of the hitch plate respectively to accommodate the sizeand shape of the particular bumper to which it is applied, and the nutsare left loose on these bolts at this time.

The upper clamping plate I2 is then adjusted upon the horizontal flange26 of the angular member II by locating the bolts 35 through the desiredopenings 32, to locate the clamping plate I2 at the required adjustmentrelative to the upper end 46 of the bumper and the nuts 36 are tightenedon the bolts 35 to rigidly connect the locking plate I2 to the flange 26with the forwardly extending portion 38 of the locking plate engagedunder the edge 46 of the bumper.

Then the adjusting screw 43 is adjusted against the back surface of thebumper to position the hitch plate vertically. The nuts upon the bolts30 and 4I are then tightened drawingthe upper and lower clamping platesI2 and I3 respectively tightly against the upper and lower edge portionsof the bumper so that the hitch plate is tightly clamped upon the bumperin vertical position as shown in Fig. 2.

The hitch plate I9 is thus rigidly connected to the bumper and in orderto couple a trailer thereto the socket 49, which is permanently attachedto the tongue of the trailer as in ordinary practice, is engaged withthe ball I9 upon the hitch plate.

Although the improved trailer hitch to which the invention pertains isespecially designed for use upon the modern type of bumper as above setforth in detail, it may be also quickly and easily at,-

the nuts Sia lupon the bolts 30a.

tache'd to the older type of bumpers which are substantially dat incross section and the upper and lower edges of which 'are located insubstantially'the same vertical plane. l

This is especially desirable in 'a business establishment whereYtrailers are `rented for attachment to the customers 'cars and andwhere it is necessary that the trailers be quickly connected to alltypes land shapes of bumpers so 'it is not necessary for Vsuch an'establishment to be equipped with more 'than the one type of trailerhitch disclosed herein for all types of bumpers.

In Fig. 3 is shown the manner in which the improved trailer hitch Amay'be attached to the old style of bumper indicated generally at 50. i

Such bumpers are substantially flat in cross section usually having aslight curvature as shown in Fig. y3 'and th'e upper and lower edges r5Iand 52 respectively 'thereof are both located in substantially 'the sameverticalplane.

To attach the improved trailer Vhitch to a bumper of this type theproper adjustment is made upon the 'lower clamping plate I3 and the sameis tightly clamped 'against the lower edge portion of the bumper bytightening the nuts '42 upon the bolts '41.

The -upper angular member il is inverted as shown in Fig. 3 so that thevertical flange il? thereof 'extends downwardand this member is soadjusted by locating the bolts a through the proper aperatures 22 or 23-in the Iupper portion tof the hitch plate I'U that the 'upper edgeportion 5| of the bumper Ell'will be `received between the 'dependingflange 21 and the hitch plate and will be tightly clamped therebetweenby tightening In this case the bolts 30a should 'be slightly longer thanthe bolts 30 shown in Figs. -1 and 2.

The upper clamping plate i0 has no function when the device is used inthis manner. It will be seen that even though a gravel pan or apron 48may be associated with this type of bumper this will not interfere withattaching the improved trailer hitch in the manner shown in Fig.

3 and above described.

kjust the `hitch plate il) in vertical position, and

in such cases this screw may be removed so that it will not be lost.

From the above it will be obvious that a trailer hitch is provided whichmay be easily vand readily attached to any type of automobile bumper nowin use and upon modern automobiles provided With a gravel pan or apronlocated adjacent to the upper portion of the bumper.

I claim:

1. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a flat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear Surface of the bumper, alower clamping plate upon the hitch plate for clamping the lower edgeportion of the bumper against the hitch plate, an angular member havinga vertical flange adjustably connected to the upper portion of the hitchplate upon the front side thereof and having a forwardly disposedsubstantially horizontal flange extending over the top of the bumper andan upper clamping plate adjustably mounted upon said forwardly disposedflange for clamping the upper edge portion of the bumper against ysaidforwardly `dis-'- posed flange.

2. A trailer hitch for attachment Vto the rear bumlper of a draftvehicle for supporting a coupling member for cooperation 'with anothercoupling member on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a flat hitchplate for mounting in vertical position against the rear surface of ythebumper, a rearwardly disposed ear upon the hitch plate for supportingoneof the coupling members, a lower clamping plate adjustably mountedupon the front side of the vhitch plate for clamping the lower edgeportion 'of the bumper against the hitch plate, an angular member havinga vertical flange adjustably connected to the upper portion of the hitchplate upon the front side there of and having a forwardly disposedsubstantially horizontal flange 'extending over the top -of the bumperand an upper clamping plate adjustably mounted upon the said forwardlydisposed flange for clamping the upper edge portion of the bumperagainst said forwardly disposed flange.

3. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a flat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, arearwardly disposed ear intermediate the ends of the hitch plate forsupporting one of the coupling members, a lower clamping plateadjustably mounted upon the front side of the hitch plate for clampingthe lower edge portion of the bumper against the hitch plate, an angularf member having a vertical flange adjustably connected to the upperportion of the hitch plate upon the front side thereof and having aforwardly disposed substantially horizontal flange extending over thetop of the bumper and an upper clamping plate adjustably connected tosaid forwardly disposed flange for clamping the upper edge portion ofthe bumper against said forwardly disposed flange.

4. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a dat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, alower clamping plate upon the front side of the hitch plate for clampingthe lower edge portion of the bumper against the hitch plate, means -foradjustably mounting the lower clamping plate upon the hitch plate, anangular member having a vertical flange adjustably connected to theupper portion of the hitch plate and having a forwardly disposedsubstantially horizontal flange extending over the top of the bumper andan upper clamping plate adjustably connected to said forwardly disposedflange for clamping the upper edge portion of the bumper against saidforwardly disposed flange.

5. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a flat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, alower clamping plate adjustably mounted upon the front side of the hitchplate for clamping the lower edge portion of the bumper against thehitch plate, an angular member having a vertical flange and a forwardlydisposed substantially horizontal flange extending over the top of thebumper, means for adjustably con.-

necting the vertical flange to the hitch plate, and an upper clampingplate detachably mounted upon said forwardly disposed flange forclamping the upper edge portion of the bumper against said forwardlydisposed flange and a rearwardly disposed ear intermediate the ends ofthe hitch plate for supporting one of the coupling members.

6. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a fiat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, alower clamping plate upon the front side of the hitch plate for clampingthe lowerl edge portion of the bumper against the hitch plate, means foradjustably mounting the lower clamping plate upon the hitch plate, anangular member having a Vertical flange and a forwardly disposedsubstantially horizontal ange extending over the top of the bumper,means for adjustably connecting the Vertical flange to the hitch plate,and an upper clamping plate adjustably mounted upon said forwardlydisposed flange for clamping the upper edge portion of the bumperagainst said forwardly disposed ilange.

7. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft Vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a flat hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, arearwardly disposed ear upon the hitch plate for supporting one of thecoupling members, a lower clamping plate, means including bolts and nutsfor adjustably mounting said clamping plate upon the lower portion ofthe hitch plate to clamp the lower edge portion of the bumpertherebetween, an angular member comprising a vertical flange and aforwardly disposed, substantially horizontal flange, means includingbolts and nuts for adjustably mounting the vertical flange of theangular member upon the upper portion of the hitch plate, said forwardlydisposed ange extending over the top of the bumper, an upper clampingplate, and means including bolts and nuts for adjustably mounting saidupper clamping plate upon said forwardly disposed flange for clampingthe upper edge portion of the bumper therebetween.

8. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the` tongue of a trailer, and comprising a hitch plate formounting in vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, alower clamping plate upon the hitch plate for clamping the lower edgeportion of the bumper against the hitch plate, an angular memberconnected to the upper portion of the hitch plate and having a forwardlydisposed substantially horizontal flange extending over the top of thebumper and an upper clamping plate for clamping the upper edge portionof the bumper against said forwardly disposed flange, and an adjustingscrew located through the hitch plate for contact with the bumper foradjusting the hitch plate t0 vertical position.

9. A trailer hitch for attachment to the rear bumper of a draft Vehiclefor supporting a coupling member for cooperation with another couplingmember on the tongue of a trailer, and comprising a hitch plate formounting in Vertical position against the rear surface of the bumper, arearwardly disposed ear upon the hitch plate for supporting one of thecoupling members, a lower clamping plate, means including bolts and nutsfor adjustably mounting said clamping plate upon the lower portion ofthe hitch plate to clamp the lower edge portion of the bumpertherebetween, an angular member comprising a vertical flange and aforwardly disposed, substantially horizontal flange, means includingbolts and nuts for adjustably mounting the angular member upon the upperportion of the hitch plate, said forwardly disposed ange extending overthe top of the bumper, an upper clamping plate, and means includingbolts and nuts for adjustably mounting said upper clamping plate uponsaid forwardly disposed flange for clamping the upper edge portion ofthe bumper therebetween, and an adjusting screw located through thehitch plate for contact with the bumper for adjusting the hitch plate tovertical position.

HAROLD P. HUGHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,611 Brown Apr. 2, 19402,306,007 Thorp Dec. 22, 1942 2,360,643 Bixel Oct. 17, 1944

